The Grieving Sisters

We're blessed to hear from our Lead Pastor, Jeff Ellis, this morning as he brings us a message from John 11:1-37 about an interaction between Jesus, Lazarus, and his sisters. In today's message, we're looking into the the complex question of why a loving and powerful God allows suffering and evil to afflict those He claims to love. Through the story of Jesus' deliberate delay in visiting the dying Lazarus, despite His deep love for Lazarus and his sisters, this message highlights that God's timing and plans are rooted in a love that aims for a greater purpose beyond our immediate comfort or understanding. In this passage, we see that Jesus' love for us is not about shielding us from all harm but about refining and maturing our faith, even if it means allowing us to face trials. "We should never base our assurance of Christ's love on our circumstances." - Pastor Jeff Ellis